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Artists Matryoshka Dolls

Note: The last 2+ years has made it near impossible to acquire any new inventory. We are keeping what was written below as a cautionary statement. 

A wide variety of vintage and contemporary art dolls from various areas of Russia, including Sergiev-Posad, Abramtsevo and Moscow, can be found here. Dolls from the 1990s have the most varied themes, when freedom of expression was given full reign after decades of suppression under Soviet rule. Here you will find exquisite masterpieces by  dolls with fairy tales and children's stories, animal tales, and specialized dolls, including political dolls, Royal Family of Russia with exquisite portraiture, chess dolls, seasonal dolls and just plain unique dolls.  The history of the Russian Matryoshka begins with their first appearance in a Moscow arts and crafts workshop at the end of the 19th century. Japan's template was borrowed and expanded upon and Russian artists have never looked back. 

 

  • Russian Lubok (Русский Лубок). Hand painted matryoshka in the Lubok graphic style. "Lubok" (лубо́к, лубо́чная картинка) is a popular print with simple text that explains the story of the picture. Basically a late 17th-early 18th century comic scene. These "lubki" sometimes appeared in a series, thus are a predecessor of the comic strip. It was signed and dated 1993 by the artist on the bottom perimeter of the first doll.

    Russian Lubok Matryoshka [1993]

    Russian Lubok (Русский Лубок). Hand painted matryoshka in the Lubok graphic style. "Lubok" (лубо́к, лубо́чная картинка) is a popular print with simple text that explains the story of the picture. Basically a late 17th-early 18th century comic scene...
    $40.00
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  • Tale of the Priest and Balda [Pushkin]

    Tale of the Priest and Balda [Pushkin]

    "The Tale of the Priest and of his Workman Balda" ("Сказка о попе и о работнике его Балде") is a fairy tale in verse by Alexander Pushkin (1799-1837). The Priest hires Balda on the cheap to collect a fabricated debt from the sea devils. Balda causes the...
    $99.00
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  • Churches of Bogorodsk. Detailed woodburnt designs go to the last tiny doll as well as the painting and enhancements, including "potal" gold and silver foil decoration (the foil is called potal) that imitates gilding and silvering. The centers of each piece also have blue sky behind each of the silver cupolas and the maiden enhancements include silver headdresses, lacework and fan designs, plus strategically place small dots.

    Churches of Bogorodsk [7nest, 7"]

    Churches of Bogorodsk. Detailed woodburnt designs go to the last tiny doll. Artistic painting and enhancements include "potal", which is gold and silver foil decoration (the foil is called potal) that imitates gilding and silvering. The centers of each...
    $65.00
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  • Silver Church Maidens [Vintage]

    Silver Church Maidens [Vintage]

    Silver Church Maidens. This is a larger version of the classic, then current, style of pyrography, painting and potal (gold or silver foil that imitates gilding or silvering). The churches in the center of each piece are abstract images of the monastery...
    $75.00
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  • The Paintings of Paul Gauguin (Картины Гогена). 5 nest, signed by the painter, and dated 1993. Painted in Rostov on the Don. Each piece has a polished clear coat of lacquer.

    Works of Gauguin [1993] 5pcs

    The Paintings of Paul Gauguin (Картины Гогена). 5 nest, signed by the painter, and dated 1993. Painted in Rostov on the Don. Each piece has a polished clear coat of lacquer. Light wear at opening of the first doll, otherwise near fine. 5⅜" to 1⅛" 1 only...
    $65.00
    THIS ITEM IS SOLD
  • Bath Time (Время для купания). A family of red heads are ready to get cleaned up. The father hoists a wooden bucket with steaming water, the mother combs her long hair, and the children bring their toys. The faces are expressive. A lot of detail is packed into this set of dolls. Signed by the artist on the bottom of the first doll. From Sergiev Posad, circa 1990.

    Bath Time Family Matryoshka [1990]

    Bath Time (Время для купания). Family nesting dolls are very popular. Here we have a family of redheads ready to get all cleaned up. The father hoists a wooden bucket with steaming water, the mother combs her long hair, and the children bring their toys...
    $40.00
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  • Icons (Иконы). An early icon doll from 1989 from roughly two years before the collapse of the Soviet Union.

    Icons Nesting Doll

    Icons (Иконы). This nesting doll exemplifies changes that were occuring under the Mikhail Gorbachev regime, which emphasized glasnost' and perestroika (openess and reform). Icons held by the nuns include the angel from the Trinity, John the Baptist,...
    $75.00
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  • The Protection of the Mother of God

    The Protection of the Mother of God

    The Protection (Покров) of the Theotokos. This glorious and elaborate matryoshka depicts one of the most important and significant feast days on the Orthodox calendar, which is commemorated on October 1. It celebrates the appearance of the Mother of God,...
    $1,200.00
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  • Works of Borisov-Musatov Art Matryoshka

    Works of Borisov-Musatov Art Matryoshka

    The Paintings of Victor Borisov-Musatov (Картины Виктора Борисова-Мусатова). A one-of-a-kind art doll that was painted and signed by the artist (O. Shepel) of Rostov on the Don and dated 1993. Each doll is illustrated "in the round" to show each painting...
    $250.00
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  • SALE
    The Works of Gauguin Russian Art Matryoshka

    The Works of Gauguin Russian Art Matryoshka

    The Paintings of Paul Gauguin (Картины Гогена). A one-of-a-kind jewel masterpiece art doll that was painted and signed by the artist (I. Shepel) of Rostov on the Don. Each piece has a copy of a painting by Gauguin and a black border running vertically on...
    MSRP: $1,100.00
    Was: $1,100.00
    Now: $895.00
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  • Cossack Motifs (Казачьи мотивы).

    Cossack Motifs

    Cossack Motifs (Казачьи мотивы). A tour-de-force fully painted gem of a doll based on the culture, traditions and people known as the Don Cossacks (Донские казаки). Among their more famous members are Mikhail Sholokhov, whose novel, "And Quiet Flows the...
    $150.00
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